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The Building Process
The focus of my instruments is performance based and functionality without fancy decoration. As a designer, I choose to use the most sought after, visually inviting exotic tone woods as a platform for construction. My preference is to devote as much energy 'tuning' the instrument to your needs. Typically, during the construction process, I will take pictures of your instrument and provide them to you either in an email or on a CD once the guitar is delivered. This enables you to get an "insiders view" of your instrument that you will have for a lifetime.
You the customer
Before I start a custom instrument, I like to get to know a little bit about you as a player or collector. The following is some areas of discussion that will help you get the guitar of your dreams:
- Musical interest: Jazz, Rock, Funk, New Age, Ragtime, Fingerstyle, classical etc…
- Playing Style: Rhythm, Lead or both.
- Choice of string attack: Bare fingers, Fingerpicks, Flat-pick, Hybrid
- String Brand and gauges
- Playing venue: Auditorium, coffee house, bar, stadium or living room
- Amplification: Pickups, Microphone, combination or none
Descriptions
Dark, warm, airy, full, woody, thick… They all describe special characteristics of an instruments tone – but is my 'dark' the same as your 'dark'? Spending time with you and "agreeing" on adjectives will help in the overall design process. Remember, we want to produce the guitar of your dreams.
Tone woods & Body Styles
The choice of supreme tone woods is almost endless. Some woods, in combination, work better than others, and when selecting woods most people ask me what I like.
If I were to build a guitar of my dreams, I would use Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides, Adirondack or German spruce for the soundboard with a Honduran Mahogany neck. This trio, in the builder's world, is known as the 'Holy Trinity' of tone woods. They tend to work well together almost magically. Of course many different combinations of woods and body shapes can be used to achieve a variety of tonal results.
Currently I am offering these body shapes:
- D'esque: My version of the classic Dreadnaught but slightly smaller, and less boxy and with a rounder bottom.
- Axxiom: Derived from the Small Jumbo shape but with a looser waist.
- Colossal: Know as the 'King of the Flattop' body shapes. Mine is patterned from the SJ-200.
- Session Series: Based on the "Axxiom" and ready to perform right out of the case.
Please check out the Specifications page for more details on body styles:
Check off list
We finalize every detail using the 'Babicz Signature check off list'. Here you will find almost every option available to build your instrument.
Prices
The current base price for one of my Babicz Signature guitars starts at $7,000.00 USD, and $9,500.00 USD for my top of the line, Brazilian rosewood model. This includes any of my standard shapes, and most tone woods except for some of the more rare species. This also includes a Limited Lifetime Warrantee to the original owner and a custom designed 5 ply Cedar Creek case with a logo embroidered shroud, and a built in Temperature/Hydrometer gauge.The Limited Edition Session Series is priced at $4,900.00 (Includes $500.00 deposit) and includes FishmanTM electronics, AmeritageTM case, and D'addario strings.
Additional charge items
- Cut away: add $500.00
- Side Sound Ports: add $400.00
- Lefty: add $300.00
- Rare Tone woods such as Madagascar rosewood or African Blackwood: Contact Jeff for availability and quotes.
- Calton Case upgrade: add $600.00
Ordering and Delivery
A 50% deposits on the agreed price locks you into the production schedule. Currently I have an 18 month waiting period. The balance is due before the instrument is delivered and the agreed price does not include S&H, insurance and or taxes. You have 5 days to return the guitar if you are not satisfied and you will be refunded the agreed price minus the S&H and insurance charges. Custom inlay or special request designs do not qualify for refunds. I ship UPS worldwide. Please feel free to contact Mandolin Brothers Ltd. as they usually have at least one Babicz Signature Series guitar in stock, ready for immediate shipment.Warranty
Every Jeff Babicz Signature Series instrument offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty to the original purchaser which protects against defects relating to materials or workmanship. The owner shall return the instrument at his/her own expense and the instrument will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This warrantee is not transferable if the instrument is sold.Items not covered under the Limited Lifetime Warranty:
- Extreme exposure to heat or cold
- Misuse or abuse
- If previous repairs or modifications where made to the instrument by an unauthorized person.
- The use of heavy gauge strings
- Normal wear and tear, such as worn frets, playing scratches, or cracks
- All hardware and electronic items shall be covered under the respective manufactures warranty.
Please contact Jeff to place your order.